Campus Housing Affordability for Foster Youth Act

This legislation aims to expand access to housing assistance for vulnerable students pursuing higher education. It achieves this by amending existing law to remove a general prohibition on providing housing assistance to students enrolled in institutions of higher education. This change is crucial for allowing federal housing support to reach a broader population of students who might otherwise be excluded. The bill further introduces a new provision within the United States Housing Act of 1937, empowering the Secretary to waive certain requirements for tenant-based assistance . This waiver specifically targets students who are enrolled in higher education, reside in on-campus student housing, and are either current or former foster youth or emancipated minors. This ensures that these particular student populations can receive critical housing support to maintain their educational pursuits. A significant aspect of this legislation is that any housing assistance provided through this waiver will not be considered income for several important financial determinations. This includes eligibility for federal student financial assistance, income calculations for cooperative education programs, living allowances under national service programs, and child support obligations. This provision prevents the housing aid from inadvertently reducing other vital support for these students.